{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Full axillary lymph node dissection and increased breast epidermal thickness 1 year after radiation therapy for breast cancer.
{Author}: Lin JY;Yang X;Serra M;Miller AH;Godette KD;Kahn ST;Henry S;Brown G;Liu T;Torres MA;
{Journal}: J Surg Oncol
{Volume}: 120
{Issue}: 8
{Year}: Dec 2019
{Factor}: 2.885
{DOI}: 10.1002/jso.25757
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>We previously reported a prospective study showing axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is associated with increased breast skin thickening during and 6 weeks post-radiation therapy (RT), and now report ALND's long-term impact at 1 year.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Among 66 women who received whole breast RT after lumpectomy, objective ultrasound measurements of epidermal thickness over four quadrants of the treated breast were measured at five time points: before RT, week 6 of RT, and 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year post-RT. Skin thickness ratio (STRA) was generated by normalizing for corresponding measurements of the contralateral breast.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>A total of 2,436 ultrasound images were obtained. Among 63 women with evaluable data at 1 year, mean STRA significantly increased at 6 months (absolute mean increase of 65%, SD 0.054), and remained elevated at 1 year post-RT (absolute mean increase of 44%, SD 0.048). In multivariable analysis, ALND compared to sentinel lymph node biopsy, longer interval between surgery and RT, increased baseline STRA, and Caucasian race predicted for more severe changes in STRA at 1 year compared to baseline (all P < .05).<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>In the setting of whole breast RT, our findings suggest that ALND has long-term repercussions on breast skin thickening.